STOCK. 173 



for your consideration, a few statistics from an accurate 

 record of the Maple Herd of Ayrshires kept near Fitchburg 

 in this State. 



The product of a herd of seven for three years, yearly aver- 

 age of each in quarts of milk, 3,010. 



Herd of eight for three years, yearly average of each in 

 quarts of milk, 2,984. 



Herd of ten for three years, yearly average of each in 

 quarts of milk, 2,769. 



Herd of two for three years, yearly average of each in 

 quarts of milk, 3,300. 



Milk-product of one cow, "Beauty," in three years, 1869, 

 1870 and 1871, yearly average in quarts of milk, 3,700, or 

 11,000 quarts in three years. 



The Alderney in appearance supports the Darwinian the- 

 ory by forming a link between the ox and the deer. Calves 

 have the appearance of fawns ; this race is celebrated for 

 gracefulness and beauty ; very gentle and fond of petting ; 

 has a remarkable faculty of converting all its food into very 

 buttery milk, and will afford rich returns for its keeping. 

 The types of these breeds will be transmitted in exact pro- 

 portion to the thorough-breeding done, and it is much to be 

 desired that all the thoroughbred bulls and cows may be 

 retained, and their numbers increased annually in the county ; 

 otherwise the strains of blood in our grades will disappear in 

 a few years, or be so faint in outlines as to be invisible. The 

 wise keeping of stock may be summed up in a few essentials, 

 viz. : Good and abundant food, comfortable shelter, proper 

 ventilation, regularity in milking and feeding, cleanliness and 

 kindness ; these six ; but the gi*eatest of these is kindness. 

 These few suggestions, hastily written, may meet the eye of 

 some who have not troubled themselves to adapt their wishes 

 and inclinations to the animals' comprehensions, and to study 

 their nature, want and conditions. We congratulate our 

 society upon the fact that the number of this latter class in 



the county is very limited. 



Alex. IVIacy, Jr., Chairman. 



